Mosquito Mask
The from the top of the spire, Crooked Beak and Cannibal Bird dropped in flight -- invisible like a gusts of wind -- to pursue the men as they ran to the boulders for cover. When they reached the safety of the giant rocks, they searched for the hidden weapons, but could not find them under the snow. Nishga, Ruwa-itk and two warriors had come before to steal the spear, knives and bow and arrows and were waiting on top of a boulder out of sight in ambush. Arrows hit all around and N’ha-itk fell wounded onto Storm Dodger. Snowy Owl’s backpack took two arrows and he was unhurt, but an arrow sank deep into the lower back of the Tsonox chief.
The three braves crawled to a crack between the rocks. Snowy Owl called out to the ambushers on top of the boulders, “You hit N’ha-itk. He bleeds. He who harms the chief is cursed along with his family. Nishga, show yourself!”
The female shaman slid down the rock and stood before them, her face painted as a male warrior with many raven feathers in her hair. She held Tillicum’s spear.
“I did it, Shaman!” said Snowy Owl. “I escaped the jaws of Babakawquit and carry the bones of the chief. You are bound to let us pass and return to the village as your father promised.”
“With this spear of power, I rule as chief and master now. I crush you like a snail on the beach,” said Nishga in a voice that did not seem her own.
She lunged forward, thrusting the spear at Snowy Owl who jumped in motion with the thrust, grabbed the shaft of the spear and rolled over on the ground, tossing the shaman hard into the rock wall where she fell stunned and unconscious.
Suddenly they heard screams above them as the bird monsters attacked the warriors on the rocks. Crooked Beak appeared and sunk her beak into the chest of one man, knocking the other off to hit his head on the rocky ground. She ripped out his heart and licked and drank much blood, calling in a high-pitched scream between bites. At the same time Cannibal Bird flew down to clutch Ruwa-itk around his hips in her powerful claws and flew away toward the top of the mountain as he screamed and struggled. Finishing her meal, Crooked Beak leaped down to pick up the fallen warrior by one foot and lifted him up into the sky where she followed her daughter to the high place.
In the shadows of the boulders the braves hid unseen. Storm Dodger held N’ha-itk in his arms. The young chief gritted his teeth in pain from the arrow, which pierced deep into his body. He was losing much blood and it was difficult for him to breathe.
“Muxqueam, my fishing friend and spokesman. Let me speak to you,” he said taking a breath.
“I am chief of the Tsonox people and my brother here is witness. I release your people from slavery and free them to go to the lost islands of winter stories. Go and tell Chah-nulth that is my word. My brother,” he said to Storm Dodger, “tell your sister that she is free to marry another brave, one who can dodge the storms like you do.”
The two friends tried to comfort the young chief and propped his head up with the pack. There was no water to drink or blanket to shield him from the cold.
“Mother, mother, mother,” he whispered then his face grew pale and he took his last breath staring into the clouds.
Storm Dodger reached his hand to N’ha-itk’s pained face to press his eyes shut.
“Your skin boat has brought you this far brother. Now walk into the arms of your Creator,” Storm Dodger said holding his grief back like a warrior in battle.
Continued
The three braves crawled to a crack between the rocks. Snowy Owl called out to the ambushers on top of the boulders, “You hit N’ha-itk. He bleeds. He who harms the chief is cursed along with his family. Nishga, show yourself!”
The female shaman slid down the rock and stood before them, her face painted as a male warrior with many raven feathers in her hair. She held Tillicum’s spear.
“I did it, Shaman!” said Snowy Owl. “I escaped the jaws of Babakawquit and carry the bones of the chief. You are bound to let us pass and return to the village as your father promised.”
“With this spear of power, I rule as chief and master now. I crush you like a snail on the beach,” said Nishga in a voice that did not seem her own.
She lunged forward, thrusting the spear at Snowy Owl who jumped in motion with the thrust, grabbed the shaft of the spear and rolled over on the ground, tossing the shaman hard into the rock wall where she fell stunned and unconscious.
Suddenly they heard screams above them as the bird monsters attacked the warriors on the rocks. Crooked Beak appeared and sunk her beak into the chest of one man, knocking the other off to hit his head on the rocky ground. She ripped out his heart and licked and drank much blood, calling in a high-pitched scream between bites. At the same time Cannibal Bird flew down to clutch Ruwa-itk around his hips in her powerful claws and flew away toward the top of the mountain as he screamed and struggled. Finishing her meal, Crooked Beak leaped down to pick up the fallen warrior by one foot and lifted him up into the sky where she followed her daughter to the high place.
In the shadows of the boulders the braves hid unseen. Storm Dodger held N’ha-itk in his arms. The young chief gritted his teeth in pain from the arrow, which pierced deep into his body. He was losing much blood and it was difficult for him to breathe.
“Muxqueam, my fishing friend and spokesman. Let me speak to you,” he said taking a breath.
“I am chief of the Tsonox people and my brother here is witness. I release your people from slavery and free them to go to the lost islands of winter stories. Go and tell Chah-nulth that is my word. My brother,” he said to Storm Dodger, “tell your sister that she is free to marry another brave, one who can dodge the storms like you do.”
The two friends tried to comfort the young chief and propped his head up with the pack. There was no water to drink or blanket to shield him from the cold.
“Mother, mother, mother,” he whispered then his face grew pale and he took his last breath staring into the clouds.
Storm Dodger reached his hand to N’ha-itk’s pained face to press his eyes shut.
“Your skin boat has brought you this far brother. Now walk into the arms of your Creator,” Storm Dodger said holding his grief back like a warrior in battle.
Continued
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